- Karis Nemik: I'm struggling to understand why my faith doesn't calm me. I believe in something. Why am I so unsettled? I mean you have nothing, you sleep like a stone. I write when I can't sleep. Wrote about you last night. Not you specifically, not "Clem." Although I'm assuming that's not your real name, anyway. "The Role of Mercenaries in the Galactic Struggle for Freedom." My conclusion is simple. Weapons are tools. Those that use them are, by extension, functional assets that we must use to our best advantage. The Empire has no moral boundaries, why should we not take hold of every chance we can? Let them see how an insurgency adapts.
- Cassian Andor: [sighs] Well, you're half right. The Empire doesn't play by the rules.
- Karis Nemik: And how am I wrong?
- Cassian Andor: They don't care enough to learn. They don't have to. You mean nothing to them.
- Karis Nemik: Perhaps they'll think differently tomorrow.
- Cassian Andor: Be careful what you wish for.
- Karis Nemik: So you think it's hopeless, do you? Freedom? Independence? Justice? We should just submit and be thankful? Just take what we're given?
- Cassian Andor: [Inhales deeply, leans toward Nemik and glares] Do I look thankful to you?
- Arvel Skeen: You wanna guess how much is in there?
- [Cassian is silent]
- Arvel Skeen: 80 million, give or take.
- [Cassian is silent]
- Arvel Skeen: What'd you tell me? You wanna win and walk away. Well... 40 million a piece. Don't tell me you haven't thought about it. See I can't fly the trawler but I do have a safe place we can hole up.
- [Cassian stares at Skeen]
- Arvel Skeen: Between the two of us, we could be the winners here.
- Cassian Andor: So no rebellion for you?
- Arvel Skeen: Oh, I'm a rebel. It's just, uh... me against everybody else.
- Cassian Andor: [sighs] Where would that put me?
- Arvel Skeen: 40 million credits is enough for me to forget all about you.
- Cassian Andor: [Scoffs] Your brother, with the orchard?
- Arvel Skeen: I don't have a brother.
- Cassian Andor: So just leave them here?
- Arvel Skeen: Don't play the high mind with me. You're not here to save anybody but yourself. I saw the first minute you came into camp. You're like me, we were born in the hole and all we know is climbing over somebody else to get out. There's a moon eight parsecs from here with nobody home. Put that thing down, catch our breath, split up the winnings and walk...
- [Cassian fast draws his blaster and shoots Skeen]
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: You.
- Lieutenant Gorn: Quit gawking and get pushing.
- [Yells to others]
- Lieutenant Gorn: Close it down! Let's go! Last call!
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: You'll hang for this.
- Lieutenant Gorn: Seven years serving you? I deserve worse than that.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: [to Colonel Petigar] The Dhanis, they're a simple people. They breed a sad combination of traits that make them particularly vulnerable to manipulation. On a practical level, they have a great difficulty holding multiple ideas simultaneously. We've found the best way to steer them as we'd like is to offer alternatives. You put a number of options on the table, and they're so wrapped up in choosing, they fail to notice you've given them nothing they thought they wanted at the start. Their deeper problem is pride. The Dhanis would rather lose, they'd rather suffer, than accept. Which is wildly ironic as they've choked down everything we've thrown at them these last 12 years. It's a ten day trek up from the lowlands. We offered them a transport because we know they'll refuse, but then along the way, we've placed a series of "Comfort Units," shelters and taverns with cheap local beverages. Quite predictably, what began as 500 pilgrims at the bottom has already dwindled down to... where are we now, Lieutenant?
- Lieutenant Gorn: We counted 60 last night, sir. They may pickup some highland stragglers along the way, but so far it's developing as expected.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: Not that long ago, they'd put 15,000 out there.
- Colonel Petigar: Have they any idea that this is the last time they'll be allowed up here?
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: No, there's no profit in that. We've spent the last decade promoting an Imperial viewing festival down in the Enterprise zone. They'll have that going forward.
- Colonel Petigar: It is their sacred valley, is it not?
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: Well, ultimately, they will return, won't they, Colonel? When you need plenty of arms and legs to build all you've got planned.
- Vel Sartha: You do everything they tell you.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: Just what are you after?
- Vel Sartha: You'll be taking us to the payroll vault.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: That's insane.
- Vel Sartha: Or we die together.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: I can't open the vault.
- Taramyn Barcona: Time check.
- Karis Nemik: [Checks watch] Falling behind.
- Vel Sartha: Go. We'll finish.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: [Cassian and Taramyn push Jayhold back] Didn't you hear me? I don't control the vault! It's on a code from the airbase. It's done remotely.
- Vel Sartha: Keep lying and it'll be a short night for you. We know about the vault and how it works. We need your hand to key the sensor. We can take just that if you prefer.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: You'll never make it out.
- Vel Sartha: You better pray we do.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: You have no idea...
- Vel Sartha: One path! One choice. We win, or everyone dies.
- Vel Sartha: You're coming with us. Everyone else stays here. Your comms have been disabled. Ours are working. If you don't help us, your family will die. If you slow us down, if you stall, if you argue, if you play us in any way, they will die.
- Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: You'll kill us anyway.
- Vel Sartha: 'Cause that's what you'd do, right?